Why are so many Israelis still clamoring for an agreement? The easy answer is their hatred of Bibi
Rabbi Grylak wasn’t a navi but he was a keen observer. If you’ve been following the patterns here in this little strip of highly coveted land, you know how negotiations tend to work: an outside actor brings the two parties to the table. An initial deal is drawn up. One side — the one that wants it all, and will slaughter and terrorize to get it — says no. The other side — the one that wants peace, and will sacrifice and submit to get it — is pressed to concede a bit more. The first side refuses yet again. The second side is squeezed harder.
It ends in one of two ways. The more prevalent way: the first side abandons the entire deal, refusing even the most generous offer. Then the media and history books judge Israel for not being flexible enough. And the enemy delights in the division, strife, and outright hatred that shredded Israeli morale over weeks or months of passionate finger-pointing and protests.
The other conclusion has the manipulative negotiators accepting the offer at some late stage when the concessions have ballooned way past any reason. Israel then pays two prices: an initial painful price, and then later an even more painful price, when released prisoners, newly available land, and/or infusions of cash and resources (like cement and building supplies) facilitate more death and destruction.
Very few people deny this drill. It’s clear to most Israelis that Hamas has been toying with their collective psyche during the last 11-plus months, relishing the explosion of blame and conflict that ensues upon each refusal of a newly revised ceasefire deal. And it’s also clear that if a deal is finally reached, it will come with a terribly painful price. So why are so many Israelis still clamoring for an agreement?
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